Hello.
My name is Jason. My girlfriend Laurie and I recently moved into a new house together. I have 2, 2 year old neutered male cats and a 4 month old female kitten. She has 2, 6 year old spayed female cats. From the beginning, we've been very cautious as far as introducing all the cats together given our concerns over whether or not they'd all get along together or not. After an initial few weeks or so, we began introducing the cats and they all seemed to get along together just fine. Of course there was the occasional hissing and growling from time to time but there was nary a cat fight and all seemed a-ok.
As time went on, the cats continued to adjust and get along w/ the exception of my 2 year old male, Dooley and her 6 year old female, Pie. An occasional fight would occur and we'd break it up. Still, it was nothing major and all of our friends who are cat owners said to just let them work it out and it'd be ok. So, we went along with them and allowed another month or so to go by in order for them to work it out. We'd break up fights, probably once or twice daily.
As time went on, the fights became worse between the two. Dooley was always the aggressor not once being provoked by the female, Pie. She would tremble in fear. It got to the point where she was urinating at the scene of the encounters out of fear. Her hissing nor her growling did anything to persuade him to keep him from coming after her.
And let me say this. Dooley is the sweetest, most loving cat you'll ever come across. He's very warm and affectionate. If ever there was an ideal housecat that has the perfect tempermant, it is Dooley. You can hold the cat for hours on out. I've had him since he was 6 weeks old and not once has he ever demonstrated aggressive behavior either towards the other male or female kitten that I own, as well as another female he use to live with.
Anyways, we took other advice and seperated Dooley and Pie. They had no contact whatsoever for a month. We gradually would take a brush with his hair on it and show Pie even a month and then 2 months after them having not seen each other and she'd growl and hiss at it. We tried holding him around her in order to re-aquaint the two hoping to re-establish a relationship that over time would allow them to not necessarily love each other but at least co-exist with each other.
It has been 3 months since they've pretty much been apart and again, during that we've had worked to re-establish a relationship. This past week, he accidently got out because the door apparently didn't latch and it opened when he pushed on it. When he came out, he immediately went for her. It was an ugly encounter that was loud and she wet herself and was cut. We were very much shaken up by it and left completely dumbfounded as to why around her and her only.. Laurie's other female cat he's fine around. It's just Pie he goes after.
Unfortunately this morning, we were in the living room fullly aware (so we thought) that Dooley was with us and Pie was locked up in the back of the house. We were that much more certain because we had just checked on them both only minutes earlier and they were completely isolated unable to get to each other. Somehow, some way while checking on them, Dooley got into the back of the house. We were in the living room and heard the loudest, ugliest fight we've ever heard between 2 cats. We went into the bedroom and he was on top of her biting her. She wet the bed and he dissappeared with a mouth full of hair.
At this point we are at a loss as to what to do. No advice we have received from any of our friends has helped. We cannot continune to have cats locked in this or that room. No matter how hard we try to seperate them, it's all but impossible to ensure they are. Dooley is always standing guard right there at door to the room where she's at. We open the door to go in, from time to time, he's going to get in. And he wastes no time in going after her. My parents have offered to take him in. They love him and he's loves them. They have another female cat that he use to live with and gets along with great. I Just recently took him down there 2 weeks ago and he and the female cat played together and had a great time.
At this point, is there anything else we can do as far as keeping him with us? Or should we re-house him by taking my parents up on their offer and giving him to them? It's very difficult for me. I've raised him since he was a baby. The behaviors he is demonstrating are not Dooley-like behaviors. I just would like to know what more can be done or is providing him a new home in the best interest of everyone involved including him? If not permanently, would allowing my parents to have him for a few months and us take him back an option and proceed from there? We both are at a loss. He will have a good home if we have to re-house him. It's just very difficult. We are both very attached to him and my parents living some distance away. We welcome any advice..
Thank you,
Jason
My name is Jason. My girlfriend Laurie and I recently moved into a new house together. I have 2, 2 year old neutered male cats and a 4 month old female kitten. She has 2, 6 year old spayed female cats. From the beginning, we've been very cautious as far as introducing all the cats together given our concerns over whether or not they'd all get along together or not. After an initial few weeks or so, we began introducing the cats and they all seemed to get along together just fine. Of course there was the occasional hissing and growling from time to time but there was nary a cat fight and all seemed a-ok.
As time went on, the cats continued to adjust and get along w/ the exception of my 2 year old male, Dooley and her 6 year old female, Pie. An occasional fight would occur and we'd break it up. Still, it was nothing major and all of our friends who are cat owners said to just let them work it out and it'd be ok. So, we went along with them and allowed another month or so to go by in order for them to work it out. We'd break up fights, probably once or twice daily.
As time went on, the fights became worse between the two. Dooley was always the aggressor not once being provoked by the female, Pie. She would tremble in fear. It got to the point where she was urinating at the scene of the encounters out of fear. Her hissing nor her growling did anything to persuade him to keep him from coming after her.
And let me say this. Dooley is the sweetest, most loving cat you'll ever come across. He's very warm and affectionate. If ever there was an ideal housecat that has the perfect tempermant, it is Dooley. You can hold the cat for hours on out. I've had him since he was 6 weeks old and not once has he ever demonstrated aggressive behavior either towards the other male or female kitten that I own, as well as another female he use to live with.
Anyways, we took other advice and seperated Dooley and Pie. They had no contact whatsoever for a month. We gradually would take a brush with his hair on it and show Pie even a month and then 2 months after them having not seen each other and she'd growl and hiss at it. We tried holding him around her in order to re-aquaint the two hoping to re-establish a relationship that over time would allow them to not necessarily love each other but at least co-exist with each other.
It has been 3 months since they've pretty much been apart and again, during that we've had worked to re-establish a relationship. This past week, he accidently got out because the door apparently didn't latch and it opened when he pushed on it. When he came out, he immediately went for her. It was an ugly encounter that was loud and she wet herself and was cut. We were very much shaken up by it and left completely dumbfounded as to why around her and her only.. Laurie's other female cat he's fine around. It's just Pie he goes after.
Unfortunately this morning, we were in the living room fullly aware (so we thought) that Dooley was with us and Pie was locked up in the back of the house. We were that much more certain because we had just checked on them both only minutes earlier and they were completely isolated unable to get to each other. Somehow, some way while checking on them, Dooley got into the back of the house. We were in the living room and heard the loudest, ugliest fight we've ever heard between 2 cats. We went into the bedroom and he was on top of her biting her. She wet the bed and he dissappeared with a mouth full of hair.
At this point we are at a loss as to what to do. No advice we have received from any of our friends has helped. We cannot continune to have cats locked in this or that room. No matter how hard we try to seperate them, it's all but impossible to ensure they are. Dooley is always standing guard right there at door to the room where she's at. We open the door to go in, from time to time, he's going to get in. And he wastes no time in going after her. My parents have offered to take him in. They love him and he's loves them. They have another female cat that he use to live with and gets along with great. I Just recently took him down there 2 weeks ago and he and the female cat played together and had a great time.
At this point, is there anything else we can do as far as keeping him with us? Or should we re-house him by taking my parents up on their offer and giving him to them? It's very difficult for me. I've raised him since he was a baby. The behaviors he is demonstrating are not Dooley-like behaviors. I just would like to know what more can be done or is providing him a new home in the best interest of everyone involved including him? If not permanently, would allowing my parents to have him for a few months and us take him back an option and proceed from there? We both are at a loss. He will have a good home if we have to re-house him. It's just very difficult. We are both very attached to him and my parents living some distance away. We welcome any advice..
Thank you,
Jason
